Senator Jim Boyle, Chair Representative Joan Welsh, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Environment & Natural Resources Senator Boyle and Representative Welsh, NRCM has been active in opposing the transportation of tar sands through Maine for about two years. We offer qualified support for this Resolve. We support efforts to slow down development of tar sands Read More
Opposition to LD 1468, An Act to Establish the High-efficiency Biomass Pellet Boiler Rebate Program and the Home Heating Conversion Fund
Senator John Cleveland, Chair Representative Barry Hobbins, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology Senator Cleveland and Representative Hobbins, While NRCM supports the use of wood pellets as a heating source to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, overriding concerns about the bill cause us to oppose it. As stated in the attached Read More
Study: Exposure to Flame Retardant Chemicals Means Firefighters Face Higher Cancer Risk than Previously Thought
Mario Moretto, staff writer Bangor Daily News news story ELLSWORTH, Maine — New research by a Blue Hill scientist shows that during a fire, firefighters are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic, cancer-causing chemicals created when commercial flame retardants burn. That firefighters develop cancer at an alarming rate is not news to industry professionals or Read More
When Talking Trash, We Should Put Disposal Programs in the Mix
Michael Boardman Portland Press Herald opinion piece PORTLAND – If there’s one topic that keeps popping up in the national news, it’s what to do with our trash. Americans produce more waste than any other country, more than half of which is residential garbage. Some of this garbage is in the form of household hazardous Read More
Support of LD 1308, An Act to Establish a Stewardship Program for Architectural Paint
Good afternoon Senator Boyle, Representative Welsh, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Abby King, I am the Toxics Policy Advocate with the Natural Resources Council of Maine and I am here to testify in support of LD 1308. This bill provides a proven solution to the Read More
Support of LD 1335, An Act to Implement Recommendations of DEP Concerning Product Stewardship
Good afternoon Senator Boyle, Representative Welsh, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. My name is Abby King; I am the Toxics Policy Advocate with the Natural Resources Council of Maine. NRCM strongly supported the product stewardship framework bill approved by the Legislature and enacted into law in 2010, and Read More
Leftover Paint Waste Target of Maine Bill
Maine Public news story More than 70 million gallons of discarded household paint wind up in the nation’s landfills each year, and untold gallons more remain stored away in attics, basements and garages in sticky, dented containers. About 10 percent of all paint sold is wasted, and many homeowners don’t know what to do with Read More
Feds: Many Causes for Dramatic Bee Disappearance
Associated Press AP news story WASHINGTON — A new federal report blames a combination of problems for a mysterious and dramatic disappearance of U.S. honeybees since 2006. The intertwined factors cited include a parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition, genetics, habitat loss and pesticides. The multiple causes make it harder to do something about Read More
NRCM Testimony on the Bowers Wind Power Project, Neither for Nor Against
My name is Cathy Johnson. I am the North Woods Project Director and Senior Staff Attorney for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I have been with NRCM for 23 years. I am here today on behalf of NRCM’s 16,000 members and supporters to testify Neither For Nor Against the proposed project, but rather to Read More
